Ear marks for livestock registration, printing method for ear mark, and identification method using the ear mark

ABSTRACT

Conventionally, the last some digits of the Animal Registration Number printed on ear tag for identifying an individual animal in a wide area like a nation are simply enlarged for farm use. However, the simply enlarged farm use number is not a desirable number for the farm to use and is inconvenient for the farm to control animals on the farm, The present invention provides the improvement of making the ear tag, containing an Animal Registration Number CN controlled by the specific management department consisting of codes including numerals, letters, or barcodes, to be used by attaching it to an ear of an animal, in order to identify an individual animal. The Animal Registration Number CN having multiple digits prepared at the specific management department is printed at least on one of the sides of the ear tag. Some part of the Animal Registration Number CN is enlarged and printed on the ear tag as a farm use number FN in accordance with a request from an individual farm by using a minimum number of digits. The enlarged farm use number FN is generated by selecting some digits from the Animal Registration Number CN and is printed on the same or a different side of the ear tag where the Animal Registration Number is printed, so that the farm use number can be effectively created from the Animal Registration Number CN.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a registration ear tag to be attachedto ears of animals, a method of printing such an ear tag, and anindividual identification method using such an ear tag, and particularlyto an animal ear tag, a method of printing such an ear tag and anindividual identification method using such an ear tag, in which the eartag is printed with: an Animal Registration Number; and a part of theAnimal Registration Number, which part is enlarged as a farm-useindividual identification number, such that individual identification ofanimals on farms can be readily performed correspondingly to the numberof animals bred or fed on each farm, in a manner comparable to typicalear tags.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional methods for individually identifying animals bred in farmsutilize can use muzzle patterns of cattle by the Japanese Wagyu BeefRegistration Association and black and white body patterns of Holsteincattle by the Holstein Cattle Association. Although such individualidentification methods are accurate, there is a problem that individualcattle cannot be identified, without their registration certificates, inthe field, thereby not allowing quick individual identification.

Meanwhile, in countries other than Japan, such as in Europe, there hasbeen practiced a dairy cow registration system utilizing ear tags. Eachear tag is constituted of two plates of soft plastic each having alength and a width of several centimeters, respectively, in which theear tag is attached to an ear of a cow by passing one ends of the platesthrough the ear. In this case, the two plates constituting the ear tagare designed to be integrated with each other upon such attachment, soas to prevent illegal reuse of the ear tag.

In such a dairy cow registration system utilizing ear tags, the surfaceof an ear tag is printed with an Animal Registration Number, so that theindividual identification of animals cannot be done satisfactorily byconfirming the Animal Registration Number.

Meantime, the Animal Registration Number to be indicated on a common eartag typically includes 2 to 3 digits for visibility, since it issufficient to identify animals within one farms. There will be thusrequired an go additional design for such ear tags, if they are to beused for identifying all the cattle in Japan.

Turning to Europe where farm registration is practiced at the nationallevel, there has been such a problem that when numbers of more than 8digits, necessary for registration, are directly printed on ear tags,the size of numerals or figures indicating an Animal Registration Numberbecomes too small to easily see, Thus, the following procedure has beenconducted in Europe: to enlargingly print numerals of the last 4 digitsof an Animal Registration Number; or to indicate an Animal RegistrationNumber in multiple rows so as 0o subdivide the upper digits into an areacode and a farm code and to enlargingly print the lowermost 4 digits asa farm-use individual identification number on an ear tag. (Hereinafter,the expression “numeral(s) at digit(s)” will be simply shortened to“digit(s)”, for expediency, as the case may be.)

However, the animal registration system utilizing ear tags, as used inEurope, has the following two problems.

(1) When only the last 4 digits of an Animal Registration Numberexcluding a check digit are enlargingly printed and the AnimalRegistration Number is issued in the ascending order from a lowernumber, farms are receive ear tags carrying enlargedly printed farm-useindividual identification numbers of 4 digits, respectively, whichnumbers are consecutive correspondingly to the issued sequence, leadingto difficulty in individually managing cattle by such ear tags. Namely,for a farm breeding 40 cows, among average farms breeding 40 to 50 cows,it is not always possible to obtain the desired numbers, such as from“0001”, to “0040”, which can be readily identified and managed. Forexample, there may be delivered 40 ear tags carrying enlarged farm-useindividual identification numbers from “3678” to “3717”. Thus, it is noteasy to individually manage cows by visually and instantaneouslyrecognizing such 4-digit farm-use individual identification numbers,even when they have been enlarged. In addition, there has been such aproblem of duplication of enlarged farm-use individual identificationnumbers.

(2) In the method where the upper digits of an Animal RegistrationNumber are subdivided into an area code and a farm code (or farmlandcode) while the lowermost 4 digits are enlargedly printed on an ear tagas a farm-use individual identification number, it is assumed that4-digit numbers from “0001” to “9999” are uniformly assigned to eachfarm irrespectively of a farm size and those numbers once assigned arenever issued again. Thus, there has been a problem of lack of numbers onan extremely large farm, upon exceeding “9999”. Conversely, there hasbeen another problem of occurrence of those numbers (so-called “deadnumbers”) which will be never used even after a lapse of tens of yearsat an averaged farm level (breeding approximately 50 animals), therebynot providing efficient usage of farm use numbers.

As described above, the farm-use enlarged numbers have been alwaysprinted with 4 digits in Europe. According to such a method, it is onlypossible to select a particular Animal Registration Number 10,000 (tenthousands) ways, in selecting such an Animal Registration Number fromthe 4-digit numbers consisting of (0000) to (9999). However, the presentapplicant has discovered that it becomes possible to produce largenumbers with drastically increased frequency if the numbers to beenlarged are printed in a 1-digit form in case of 0 to 9, in a 2-digitform in case of 11 to 99, and so forth, even under the same condition of10,000 given of Animal Registration Numbers (0 to 9999). In other words,it becomes possible to produce unique Animal Registration Numbers to bepartially enlarged at the request of farms without wastefulness, byindicating such large numbers with a required minimum number of digits.This is extremely simple, but provides a large effect.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an animalear tag, a method of printing such an ear tag, and an individualidentification method using such an ear tag, by which there can beeffectively issued Animal Registration Numbers within a predeterminednumber of digits substantially without restriction, and those desiredindividual identification numbers suitable for readily and individuallyidentifying animals in respective farms can be enlargedly printed asrequested by the farms.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a firstembodiment, an ear tag, containing an Animal Registration Numberconsisting of codes including numerals, letters, or barcodes, to be usedby attaching it to an ear of an animal in order to identify anindividual animal, characterized in that: the Animal Registration Numberhaving multiple digits is printed at least on one of the sides of theear tag, and further, some part of the Animal Registration Number isenlarged and printed on the same or a different side of the ear tagwhere the Animal Registration Number is printed, in accordance with arequest from an individual farm for identifying each animal on the farm,by using a minimum number of digits of the Animal Registration Number.

In the first embodiment, there can be provided an ear tag wherein somepart of the Animal Registration Number to be enlarged is selected fromadjacent digits of the Animal Registration Number, when the enlargednumber to be printed on the ear tag has multiple digits.

In the first embodiment, there can be also provided an ear tag whereinsome part of the Animal Registration Number to be enlarged is selecteddiscontinuous from the digits of the Animal Registration Number, whenthe enlarged number to be printed on the ear tag has multiple digits.

In the above two cases, where the enlarged number to be printed on theear tag has multiple digits, there can be provided an ear tag whereinone or more digits of the Animal Registration Number enlarged andprinted on the ear tag, as the enlarged number, can be distinguished inthe multiple digits of the Animal Registration Number, in relation toother digits thereof, by eye.

Similarly, in the above two cases where the enlarged number to beprinted on the ear tag has multiple digits, there can be provided an eartag wherein information on which digits of the Animal RegistrationNumber are enlarged,:in size and printed on the ear tag is contained ina barcode when the Animal Registration Number is printed on the ear tagin the form of a barcode.

Further, in the first embodiment, there can be provided an ear tagwherein the enlarged number includes a code which is not included in theAnimal Registration Number, and the code is inserted in the AnimalRegistration Number as a dummy digit in a form where the dummy digit canbe distinguished from the other digits of the Animal RegistrationNumber.

Moreover, in all of the aforementioned cases, there can be provided anear tag wherein the enlarged number is printed on the left side, rightside, or center of the ear tag, and the space is left on at least one ofthe left side and right side of the enlarged numbers, when the enlargednumber has fewer digits than the maximum number of digits that can beprinted on the ear tag. In this case, a guide mark for indicating thespace to be filled in by a code can be printed on the space.

Meanwhile, there can be provided an ear tag wherein the enlarged numberis a one-digit number or a two-digit number, and at least one figure “0”having the same size as the enlarged number is printed on the left sideof the enlarged number in accordance with the digit of the enlargednumber to make the enlarged number a three or less digit number.

Further, there can be provided an ear tag wherein the enlarged number isa one-digit number or a two-digit number, and at least one figure “0”having a smaller size than the enlarged number is printed on the leftside of the enlarged number in accordance with the digits of theenlarged number to make the enlarged number a three or less digitnumber.

Notes when a figure “0” is to be printed on the left side of theenlarged number, the color of the figure “0” may be thinner than thecolor of the enlarged number comprised of a one-digit number or atwo-digit number, or the figure “0” may be printed as an outlinecharacter.

Moreover, the following two methods are possible as a method of printingan ear tag, according to a second embodiment of the present inventionfor achieving the aforementioned object,

According to a first printing method, there is provided a method ofprinting the Animal Registration Number controlled by the specificorganization consisting of codes including numerals, letters, orbarcodes and an enlarged number, on an ear tag which is used byattaching it to an ear of an animal in order to identify an individualanimal, comprising the steps of: requesting the enlarged number, whichis a private number having four digits, at most, necessary to identifyan individual animal in an individual farm, to the specific organizationfrom the individual farm, through some channel of supply; selecting oneof the Animal Registration Number, which includes all or all but one ofthe figures consisting of each digit of the required enlarged number,from the database of the Animal Registration Number previously preparedat the specific organization; transmitting the selected RegistrationNumber and the required enlarged number to the ear tag issuingorganization from the specific organization; and printing the AnimalRegistration Number transmitted from the specific organization on theear tag and printing the enlarged number included in the AnimalRegistration Number, in a minimum number of digits, at the ear tagissuing organization.

According to a second printing method, there is provided a method ofprinting the Animal Registration Number controlled by the specificorganization consisting of codes including numerals, letters, orbarcodes and an enlarged number on an ear tag which is used by attachingit to an ear of an animal in order to identify an individual animal,comprising the steps of: regularly transmitting unused numbers in thedatabase of the Animal Registration Number previously prepared at thespecific organization to the database provided at the ear tag issuingorganization; arranging a set of figures indicating the enlarged numberwhich is necessary to be printed on the ear tag enlarged in a minimumnumber of digits in order to identify an individual animal at theindividual farm, and then selecting an Animal Registration Number whichincludes all of the figures of the arranged enlarged number somewhere inthe multiple digits thereof from the database of the tag issuingorganization; transmitting the selected Animal Registration Number tothe database of the specific organization from the ear tag issuingorganization and deleting an unused number corresponding to the selectedAnimal Registration Number from the database of the specificorganization; and printing the selected Animal Registration Number onthe ear tag and printing the enlarged number in a large size on the eartag in a minimum number of digits, at the ear tag issuing organization,after transmitting the selected Animal Registration Number to thedatabase of the specific organization from the ear tag issuingorganization.

Further, the following two methods are possible as an individualidentification method utilizing an ear tag, which individualidentification method is a third embodiment of the present invention.

As a first individual identification method, there is provided a methodof identifying an individual animal by distinguishing it from anotherusing the ear tag according to the first embodiment and a data processorat the place where animals are collected from each farm, comprising thesteps of: inputting the Animal Registration Number printed on the eartag and further inputting a farm use number to the data processor;detecting a duplication of the farm use number among the ear tagsattached to each animal grouped at designated place for a specificpurpose by the data processor; and displaying an instruction to add andindicate at least one digit of the figures included in the AnimalRegistration Number to the farm use number in order to distinguish theduplicated farm use number from another when the data processor detectsthe duplication of the farm use number on the ear tag.

As a second individual identification method, there is provided a methodof identifying an individual animal by distinguishing it from anotherusing the ear tag according to the first embodiment, a card forsubsidiary use with the ear tag and containing all of the informationprovided by the ear tag, and a data processor at the place where animalsare collected from each farm, comprising the steps of; inputting theAnimal Registration Number printed on the ear tag or the card andfurther inputting a farm use number to the data processor; detecting aduplication of the farm use number among the ear tags attached to eachanimal grouped at designated place for a specific purpose by the dataprocessor; and displaying an instruction to add at least one digit ofthe figures included in the Animal Registration Number to the farm usednumber in order to distinguish the duplicated farm use number fromanother when the data processor detects the duplication of said farm usenumber on the ear tag.

According to the present invention, respective farms can obtain ear tagsprinted with enlarged farm use numbers with the minimum number of digitsrequired by the farm in addition to printed Animal Registration Numbersmanaged by a predetermined organization, so that the enlarged farm usenumbers become legible to thereby facilitate individual identificationand management of animals in respective farms.

Further, visual recognition of an Animal Registration Number ordecryption of a barcode will show which portion of the AnimalRegistration Number the numerals of an enlarged number have beenselected from. Moreover, by adding a dummy numeral into the enlargednumber, it becomes possible to effectively utilize Animal RegistrationNumbers in a database of a predetermined organization.

Furthermore, the space at at least one of the right and left sides ofthe enlarged number allows arbitrary entrance of a symbol and/or numeralby a farm, to thereby permit distinguishing duplicated enlarged numbersfront each other. In this case, a guide mark(s) printed at the spacefacilitates the task such as entering a letter and/or numeral in thespace.

By printing a numeral(s) “0” at the left side of a 1-digit or 2-digitenlarged number up to the extent of total 3 digits which still allowsthe enlarged number to be legible, the number of digits of enlargednumbers can be standardized or uniformalized.

Further, according to the individual managing method utilizing an eartag of the present invention, even upon occurrence of duplication ofenlarged numbers when animals attached with ear tags printed withenlarged numbers have been collected such as at a market or abattoir, itis still possible to mutually distinguish individual animals to therebymanage them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Such as the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention will be described in detail with reference to theembodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an appearance of an ear tag being used inDenmark;

FIG. 2A is a front view of an appearance of an ear tag for a right earbeing used in France;

FIG. 2B is a front view of an appearance of an ear tag for a left earbeing used in France;

FIG. 3A is a front view of an appearance of an ear tag being used inNetherlands;

FIG. 3B is an explanatory view showing a method to assign AnimalRegistration Numbers in a conventional Animal Registration Number book;

FIG. 4 is a view explaining duplication of consecutive numbers in amanaging method adopting the ear tag in Netherlands;

FIG. 5A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toanother example of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6B through 6D are front views of appearances of animalregistration ear tags according to other examples of the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toanother example of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according to afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8B and 8C are front views of appearances of animal registrationear tags according to other examples of the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory views showing a method fordifferentiating coinciding farm use numbers in animal registration eartags of the present invention;

FIGS. 9C and 9D are explanatory views showing two ear tags in a statewhere Animal Registration Numbers are different from each other but theAnimal Registration Numbers according to the present invention havecoincided with each other;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are front views of appearances of modified examples ofthe animal registration ear tags according to the first through thirdembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an assembling perspective view showing an animal registrationear tag according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an assembling perspective view showing an animal registrationear tag according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an assembling perspective view showing an animal registrationear tag according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an animal registration ear tagaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an animal registration ear tagaccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of an animal registration ear tagaccording to a 10th embodiment of the present invention, when viewedfrom the front side of the tag;

FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the animal registration ear tagaccording to the 10th embodiment of the present invention, when viewedfrom the rear side of the tag;

FIG. 17A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toan 11th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17B through 17f are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of the 11th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toa 12th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 18B through 18F are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of the 12th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toa 13th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 19B through 19F are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of he 13th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toa 14th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 20B through 20F are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of the 14th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toa 15th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 21B through 21F are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of the 15th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22A is a front view of an animal registration ear tag according toa 16th embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 22B through 22F are front views of animal registration ear tagsaccording to other examples of the 16th embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a view explaining duplications of enlarged numbers of eartags according to the present invention when cows attached with the eartags have been collected at a predetermined place from respective farms;

FIG. 24 is a view showing an instruction line to be displayed on adisplay device, when duplication of enlarged numbers of ear tags hasoccurred at the collecting place of cows;

FIG. 25 is a view explaining identification of cows having duplicatednumbers, respectively, by means of neck tags, when duplication ofenlarged numbers of ear tags has occurred at the place for collectingcows;

FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of a card recorded with anindividual cow information in a barcode form and attached to a cow;

FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of a card recorded with anindividual cow information in a barcode form and attached to a cow, anda hand-held terminal for reading the barcode; and

FIG. 28 is a view explaining identification of cows having duplicatednumbers, respectively, by means of the card, when duplication ofenlarged numbers of ear tags has occurred at the collecting place ofcows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The concrete embodiments according the present invention will bedescribed in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. However, before describing a constitution of an ear tag, amethod of printing such an ear tag, and an individual identificationmethod using such an ear tag according to the present invention, therewill be described ear tags already used in Europe.

FIG. 1 shows an ear tag ED being used in Denmark. The ear tag ED inDenmark is printed in three rows. The code in the uppermost rowindicates that this ear tag is a registration ear tag in Denmark. Thenumber “12345” at the middle row is a farm code or farmland code.Further, the enlargedly printed 4-digit number “0805” at the lowermostrow is an intra-farm consecutive cow number.

In Denmark, the farm use number and cow number printed in the middle andlowermost rows, respectively, of the ear tag cooperatively constitute anAnimal Registration Number (unique number). The 4-digit cow number,which is enlargedly printed at the lowermost row and is to be used in adaily farm operation, includes a numeral(s) “0”, such that an ear tagprinted with “0001” is firstly distributed in each farm and the numberedportion (i.e., effective numeral portion) of the tag becomes two digitssuch as “0011” as the number of cows increases. Since those numbers onceissued are never issued again, the numbered portion of a cow number ineach farm is consecutively increased to 3 digits and then 4 digits.

However, considering the number of cows (44 cows in the year 1995) bredin an averaged farm in Denmark, the 4-digit number including anumeral(s) “0” includes many unnecessary digits, resulting in arestricted print size of the enlarged number and in difficulty inidentifying the 4-digit number. Further, in a farm where a calf has beenborn, the cow number for the calf has no duplications. However, when thecalf is transferred so another pasture, it is impossible to avoidduplication of the cow number at the new pasture.

On the other hand, the critical problem in the cow registration systemutilizing an ear tag in Denmark resides in that the unique numbers(Animal Registration Numbers) have not been utilized effectively. Thisis because the unique number is constituted by combining a farm numberor farm use number with a 4-digit cow number. Explaining in detail, theadministrative department as a specific organization in Denmark issupposed to assign a unique number code frame comprising 9,999(approximately 10,000) numbers for each farm. However, in a calculationby assuming that the averaged number of bred cows is largely evaluatedas 50 cows and an annual update ratio of cows is 30% in Denmark, onlythe numbers corresponding to about 800 cows will be actually used evenover half a century (i.e., over 50 years), resulting in a utilizationratio of as low as 8% of the assigned numbers. Namely, there has been aproblem of so-called “dead numbers” in which most of assigned uniquenumbers will not be used. This is inappropriate, in view of theefficiency of the system.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show ear tags EFR and EFL being used in France,respectively, and FIG. 2A shows the ear tag EFR for a right ear and FIG.2B shows the ear tag EFI for a left ear. The cow managing methodutilizing ear tags conducted in France is to individually identify cowsby attaching right and left ear tags different from each other.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the right ear tag EFR carries two-row printing, inwhich the alphabetical letters and numerals included in the upper rowcorrespond to prefecture, district and farm codes in France such that“75” is a prefecture code, “123” is a district code and “456” is a farmcode. The number in the lower row is a consecutive number indicating anintra-farm cow number, similarly to that in Denmark. As shown in FIG.2B, also the left ear tag EFL carries two-row printing, in which thealphabetical letters in the upper row correspond to a country code andthe number in the lower row is an administrative number issued by theadministrative authority.

As described above, the administrative numbers used for ear tags inFrance include 14 digits for a right ear and 12 digits for a left ear,in total 26 digits. Thus, it requires a long time to retrieve such a26-digit number from a database, and there exists such a possibility ofinput error in the 26-digit administrative number. Further, since theear tag in France has the cow number constituted of a 4-digit numbersimilarly to that in Denmark, the printed size of the numerals is toosmall even though they are enlarged, resulting in difficulty inidentifying the 4-digit number on a farm. Moreover, the cow managingsystem by the ear tag in France has a problem of a low utilization ratioof the numbers assigned to respective farms, similar to the system inDenmark.

FIG. 3A shows an ear tag EH being used in Netherlands. This ear tag EHis also printed with three rows. In Netherlands, the Animal RegistrationNumber to be printed on an ear tag comprises 9 digits, without using afarm code nor an area code. Essentially, these 9 digits include 8 digitsas the Animal Registration Number and the last one digit as a checkdigit. Further, in Netherlands, the middle row is a barcode includingthe Animal Registration Number, and the lowermost row is a numberobtained by enlarging the lowermost 4 digits of the (essential) AnimalRegistration Number. The enlargedly printed number of the essentiallowermost 4 digits is provided for visibility in a farm, and thislowermost 4-digit number is used as a farm-use individual identificationnumber (hereinafter abbreviated to “arm use number”). The farm usenumber enlargedly printed in the lowermost row includes a numeral “0” ata relevant upper digit when such an upper digit does not include one ofnumerals “1” to “9”.

As shown in FIG. 3B, this 9-digit Animal Registration Number is issuedin the ascending order from a lower value of the Animal RegistrationNumber, and sequentially assigned to respective farms. This leads to thecomplete or perfect usage of the numbers, and thus superior in effectiveusage of the numbers.

However, as described hereinafter, there have been problems on farmsactually using such an ear tag EH as defined by the Dutch cow managingsystem.

The first problem is that no regularity or consistency is found in thelowermost 4-digit farm use number of an ear tag EH printed with anAnimal Registration Number and distributed from the administrativedepartment. For example, when a certain farm has annually requested eartags for 40 cows, there may be distributed ear tags for 40 cowsincluding lowermost 4-digit numbers from “2478” to “2517” in the firstyear, from “0987” to “1126” in the second year, and from “5876” to“5915” in the third year. Thus, lowermost 4-digit numbers or lowermost 4digits of ear tags distributed in different years do not include anyrelevancy or regularity for deducing the distribution year. This resultsfrom the fact that those numbers corresponding to the requested numberof cows are sequentially selected from consecutive Animal RegistrationNumbers prepared in the database possessed by the administrativedepartment, and only the lowermost 4 digits of the selected AnimalRegistration Numbers are enlargedly printed, respectively.

These 4-digit farm use numbers enlargedly printed for farms withoutregularity have caused such an upset situation that the introductiontime of animals cannot be deduced upon identifying cows in farms,thereby obstructing a smooth breeding and managing operation by visualrecognition of a farm use number.

Further, for example, even if the administrative department issuing eartags compares the farm use numbers to be issued at the pertinent timewith those already issued to a relevant farm at the previous time andassigns lowermost 4-digit farm use numbers greater than the previousones, it is difficult to intuitively identify 4-digit farm use numberslacking consecutiveness and regularity of distribution years.

Moreover, since the averaged number of cows bred in dairy farms inNetherlands is only 46, 4-digit farm use numbers are too large toindividually identify cows in an averaged farm and are complicated eventhough the numbers are enlargedly printed. Thus, there are frequentlyfound farms which individually identify cows such as by attaching necktags carrying arbitrarily selected numbers, to cows in addition toregistered ear tags.

In addition to the aforementioned problems, the most critical problem inthe Dutch animal managing system utilizing ear tags is that farm usenumbers are duplicatedly issued. This duplication of farm use numbersenlargedly printed on ear tags is dangerous, since the usage or purposeof ear tags is to individually identify cows.

There will be now described the duplication of enlargedly printed farmuse numbers. Farm use numbers include approximately 10,000 (tenthousand) numbers from “0001” to “9999”. Usage of these numbers in aconsecutive-number manner and assignment thereof to farms will notresult in duplication of farm use numbers, during the assignment up tothe first 10,000 cows. However, at the time when the Animal RegistrationNumber has exceeded 10,000, ear tags are distributed with farm usenumbers sequentially identical with those printed on ear tagsdistributed for the first 10,000 cows.

Namely, for example, the farm use number of a cow ear tag having anAnimal Registration Number “000,000,010”, becomes identical with that of“000,010,010”, since both farm use numbers are duplicated “0010” (note,check digits are not considered at all, in this case). Then, it cannotbe ignored that the ear sag printed with the duplicated farm use numbermay be distributed to the same farm. The larger the number of animalsper farm, the more often the duplication of arm use numbers.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when farm use numbers from “0401” to“0450” have been firstly distributed for 50 cows of a certain farm,there wilt be generated a duplicated farm use number(s) in this farm for50 cows at the next time when there are assigned 50 pieces ofconsecutive numbers ascendingly started from “0352” or descendinglystarted from “0499”. At the next or third distribution time, there isfurther extended the duplication range of farm use numbers. Theduplication possibility of farm use numbers is a value obtained bysubtracting a possibility of nonoccurrence of duplication from allcombinations. Thus, from the calculation based on 50 cows approximatingthe averaged number of bred cows in Netherlands while assuming that10,000 kinds of numbers exist, there are obtained duplicationpossibilities of 2.9% for the 3rd year, 5.8% for the 4th year, 9.56% forthe 5th year, and about 14% for the 6th year. This duplicationpossibility is further increased when cows are transferred from a farmto another.

As described above, the Dutch animal managing system utilizing ear tagshas no wastefulness concerning the occurrence of unique AnimalRegistration Numbers, but involves the aforementioned decisive problemconcerning the most important intra-farm individual identification ofcows.

Referring to the procedure of the U.S. Holstein Cattle Association notshown herein, the number to be printed on an ear tag is constituted ofthree rows including uppermost, middle and lowermost rows printed with alogo, a registration number and an enlarged farm use number,respectively. The enlarged farm use number is allowed to be arbitrarilyissued at the request of a farm, and is of an independent form having norelationship with the registration number at the middle row. This leadsto a problem that cows cannot be individually identified in a correctmanner by farm use numbers at a cow-collecting place such as a market.There is a further problem in managing the whole system, such as thepossibility of duplication of farm use numbers which is difficult tocheck.

As explained above, the animal managing systems utilizing ear tags inEuropean countries involve several problems. The present inventiontherefore provides an animal registration ear tag, a method of printingsuch an ear tag, and an individual managing method: in which AnimalRegistration Numbers are issued without wastefulness in an animalmanaging system utilizing an ear tag printed with an Animal RegistrationNumber managed by a predetermined administrative department; in whichthese Animal Registration Numbers are related to the enlarged farm usenumbers for individually identifying, to thereby manage, respectivecows; and in which numbers desired by farms can be printed as farm usenumbers.

Firstly, there will be described a constitution of an animalregistration ear tag according to the present invention with referenceto FIGS. 5A through 16B. To simplify the explanation, there will bedescribed a situation where Animal Registration Numbers include 9digits, while farm use numbers include 3 digits at the maximum.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show examples of an ear tag 1 according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. The ear tag 1 is basically printedwith two rows. The upper row is an Animal Registration Number CN forregistering an animal, and the lower row is a farm use number FN which,exactly, is a farm-use individual identification number enlargedlyprinted to individually identify an animal on a farm. Note, although theAnimal Registration Number CN may include letters and other symbols suchas Japanese katakana characters, Japanese hiragana characters andalphabetical letters, there will be described hereinafter AnimalRegistration Numbers CN fully constituted of numerals only, forsimplified explanation. Check digits are also excluded from theexplanation.

In the first embodiment, the farm use number FN is provided as anenlarged number, by enlargingly printing a portion of the AnimalRegistration Number CN. In addition, the farm use number FN as theenlarged number printed in the lower row is provided by indicating, in arequired minimum number of digits, the number requested by a farm oradapted to be readily used by a farm. Namely, the farm use number FN inthis embodiment is printed by a number excluding prefixed “0('s)”thereof. For example, when numbers from “1” to “99” of one digit or twodigits are required as farm use numbers FN, the ear tags 1 are simplyprinted with meaningful numerals such as from “1” to “99”, withoutprinting meaningless numeral “0('s)” which have been otherwise prefixedin Europe such as in a manner from “0001” to “0099”.

Then, the farm use number FN of the ear tag 1 of this embodiment isprovided by enlargingly printing the last digit(s) of the AnimalRegistration Number CN. Thus, in FIG. 5A, the farm use number FN “1” isprovided by enlargingly printing the last 1digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN “XXXXXX201” (where X is selected from numeralsfrom 0 to 9), and the farm use number FN “99” is provided by enlarginglyprinting the last 2 digits of the Animal Registration Number CN“XXXXXX299”. Note, FIG. 5A shows the examples where the farm use numbersFN from “1” to “99” are provided by enlargingly printing the last 1digitor last 2 digits of the consecutive Animal Registration Numbers CN from“XXXXXX201” to “XXXXXX299”. However, the Animal Registration Numbers CNare Dot necessarily consecutive. For example, the farm use number FN“49” may be provided by enlargingly printing the numerals at the last 2digits of an Animal Registration Number CN “XXXXXX849”.

As described above, the examples described concerning FIG. 5A relate tothe situation where the farm use numbers FN comprise one digit or twodigits. FIG. 5B shows a situation where the farm use number FN comprises3 digits. Note that the printing position and arrangement of the AnimalRegistration Number CN and farm use number FN are not limited to theabove.

FIGS. 6A through 6D show examples of an animal registration ear tag 2according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Also the eartag 2 of this embodiment is basically printed with two rows. The upperrow is an Animal Registration Number CN for registering animals, and thelower row is a farm use number FN which, exactly, is a farm-useindividual identification number for individually identifying an animalin a farm.

In the ear tag 1 of the first embodiment, the farm use number FN isprovided by enlargingly printing the last digit(s) of the AnimalRegistration Number CN. In the ear tag 2 of the second embodiment, thefarm use number FN is provided by enlargingly printing digits selectedarbitrarily or at random from the Animal Registration Number CN. In thissituation, it may be required to confirm by eye, which digits of theAnimal Registration Number ON have been enlargedly printed as the farmuse number FN. Providing for such a situation, the ear tag 2 of thesecond embodiment is adapted to indicate which digits of the AnimalRegistration Number CN have been enlargedly printed as the farm usenumber FN. Namely, in the ear tag 2 of the second embodiment, there canbe visualized those digits of the Animal Registration Number CN whichhave been enlargedly printed as the farm use number FN, in a certainmanner.

FIG. 6A shows an example where the number “23” enlargedly printed as thefarm use number FN is provided by enlargingly printing numerals at the4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of the Animal RegistrationNumber CN “135623445”. In this example, it can be visualized that thenumerals at the 4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of“135623445” have been enlargedly printed, by drawing an underline belowthe numerals at the 4th and 5th digits to thereby indicate that thesenumerals have been enlargedly printed.

FIG. 6B shows another example where the number “56” enlargedly printedas the farm use number FN is provided by enlargingly printing numeralsat the 4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN “123456789”. In this example, it can be seen thatthe numerals at the 4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of“123456789” have been enlargedly printed, by printing the numerals atthe 4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN “123456789” in a size larger than that of theremaining numerals.

In each of the aforementioned examples, those numerals at the successive2 digits of the Animal Registration Number CN have been enlargedlyprinted as the farm use number FN. However, those numerals of the farmuse number FN to be enlargedly printed as the farm use number FN are notnecessarily from two successive digits. FIG. 6C shows an example in sucha situation.

FIG. 6C shows a modified example where the number “56” enlargedlyprinted as the farm use number FN is provided by enlargingly printingnumerals at the 3rd and 5th digits from the uppermost digit of theAnimal Registration Number CN “345662889”. In this example, it can bevisualized that the numerals at the 3rd and 5th digits from theuppermost digit of “345662889” have been enlargedly printed, byattaching marks “” above the numerals at the 3rd and 5th digits fromthe uppermost digit of the Animal Registration Number CN “345662889”.

In each of the aforementioned examples where the farm use number FNcomprises two or more digits, the numeral at the upper digit in the farmuse number FN is also located at the upper digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN, and so is the numeral at the lower digit.However, the relationship between the upper digit numeral and the lowerdigit numeral in the farm use number FN need not correspond to therelationship between the upper digit numeral and the lower digit numeralin the Animal Registration Number CN. The numeral at the upper digit ofthe farm use number FN can be selected from a lower digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN. FIG. 6D shows an example for such a situation.

FIG. 6D shows a modified example where the number “98” enlargedlyprinted as the farm use number FN is provided by enlargingly printingthe numeral “9” at the 4th digit from the lowermost digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN “365289223” as the numeral at the upper digit ofthe farm use number FN, and the numeral “8” at the 5th digit from thelowermost digit of the number CN as the numeral at the lower digit ofthe number FN. In this example, it can be visualized which numerals ofthe Animal Registration Number CN have been selected and in what orderthey have been enlargedly printed, by attaching a mark “▾” above thatnumeral “9” of the Animal Registration Number CN which numeral has beenenlarged as the numeral at the upper digit of the farm use number FN,and a mark “▴” below that numeral “8” of the number CN which numeral hasbeen enlarged as the numeral at the lower digit of the number FN.

Although not shown, it is also possible to attach letters above or belownumerals selected as the farm use number FN from the Animal RegistrationNumber CN, to thereby indicate the order or sequence of the selection.

According to the ear tag 2 of the second embodiment, arbitrary digits ofthe Animal Registration Number CN are enlargedly printed as the farm usenumber FN. Thus, even when the number of digits of the AnimalRegistration Number CN is restricted, it is possible to provide manyfarm use numbers FN within such a restricted number of digits, therebyattaining a high utilization ratio of the Animal Registration Number CNwithout wastefulness. Further, as described above, the farm use numberFN is indicated at the required minimum number of digits in the ear tag2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, therebyenabling provision of many farm use numbers FN. This can be neverrealized by the European systems which enlargingly indicate numerals asthe fixed 4 digits.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show an animal registration ear tag 3 according to athird embodiment of the present invention, and a modified examplethereof, respectively. The animal registration ear tag 3 of the thirdembodiment is differentiated from the aforementioned two embodiments inthat the tag 3 is printed with a barcode BC somewhere on the ear tag 3.The barcode BC may be printed together with the Animal RegistrationNumber CN, or printed alone as the number CN. The farm use number FN inthe ear tag 3 of the third embodiment is the same as the aforementionedfirst and second embodiments.

FIG. 7A shows an example where the barcode BC is printed between theAnimal Registration Number CN and the enlargedly printed farm use numberFN. By the way, in case of printing the farm use number FN by selectingthe last digit(s) of the Animal Registration Number CN, similar to thefirst embodiment, the barcode BC may simply indicate the AnimalRegistration Number CN or may include information concerning how manylast digits of the number CN have been enlarged. However, as shown inFIG. 7A, where the farm use number FN is printed by selecting anarbitrary digit (the 2nd digit in this example) of the AnimalRegistration Number CN, the, barcode BC includes information concerningwhich digit of the number CN has been selected. According to such amethod, it becomes possible to readily and externally establish a datacorrespondence list.

FIG. 7B shows an example where the ear tag 3 carries only the enlargedlyprinted farm use number CN and the barcode BC, without the AnimalRegistration Number CN. Note, a two-dimensional barcode SC is used asthe barcode BC in this example. This two-dimensional barcode SC is onetype of barcode originated from an encryption technique devised by theIsraeli military communications. In this example, the two-dimensionalbarcode SC includes information as to which digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN the farm use number FN has been selected from.

FIGS. 8A through 8C show examples of an animal registration ear tag 4according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively.Also the ear tag 4 of the fourth embodiment is basically printed withtwo rows. This fourth embodiment is differentiated from otherembodiments in that: there is inserted a dummy numeral z as a 3rd digitfrom the lowermost digit of the Animal Registration Number CN when thisnumber CN is “ABC DES GHI”, to thereby modify it to “ABC DEF GZHI” andprint it. This dummy numeral z has nothing to do with any of numeralsincluded in the Animal Registration Number CN, but provides expediencyfor farms.

The insertion of the dummy numeral Z into the Animal Registration NumberCN is performed in view of demands of many farms for cow management witheffective and unique cow numbers with a possibly smaller number ofdigits. Concretely, typical farms tend to wish to manage animals by farmuse numbers such as from “1” to “199” or from “1” to “299”. This isbecause a number having very many digits is too difficult to rememberand to view, and there exists a demand for knowing the number of cowsbeing bred.

Under such a situation described just above, it becomes practicallyimpossible to enlargingly print, as the above wished 3-digit number, afarm use number FN having a numeral of “3” or greater at the 3rd digitfrom the lowermost digit, according to the aforementioned method forselecting the last digits, as they are, from the Animal RegistrationNumber CN such as in the ear tag 1 of the first embodiment. Nonetheless,the fourth embodiment allows to use the Animal Registration Number CN asone of the numbers within the 100's or 200's series even in such asituation where the numeral at the original 3rd digit from the lowermostdigit of the number CN is one of numerals “3” to “9”, by inserting adummy numeral DN comprising “1” or “2” into between the original 2nddigit and the original 3rd digit from the lowermost digit of the AnimalRegistration Number CN. This method improves the effective utilizationratio of an Animal Registration Number CN even in a method forenlargingly printing a farm use number FN by selecting the last digits,as they are, from the Animal Registration Number CN such as in the eartag 1 of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 8A through 8C show examples exhibiting how the dummy numeral DN isexpressed within the Animal Registration Number CN.

FIG. 8A shows an example where the dummy numeral “1” is inserted as abracketed numeral “(1)” between the original 2nd digit and the original3rd digit of the Animal Registration Number CN when the numeral “1” atthe uppermost digit of the farm use number FN “101” is the dummynumeral. FIG. 8B shows an example where the dummy numeral “1” isinserted as an underlined numeral “1” between the original 2nd digit andthe original 3rd digit of the Animal Registration Number CN when thenumeral “1” at the uppermost digit of the farm use number FN “101” isthe dummy numeral. Lastly, FIG. 8C shows an example where the dummynumeral “1” having a slash superimposed thereon is inserted between theoriginal 2nd digit and the original 3rd digit of the Animal RegistrationNumber CN when the numeral “1” at the uppermost digit of the farm usenumber FN “101” is the dummy numeral.

Further, the above method to enlargingly print the farm use number FNsuch as including the inserted dummy numeral DN can be also applied to asituation where numerals constituting a farm use number FN are not fullycontained in an Animal Registration Number CN.

According to the above constituted ear tags 1 through 3 of the presentinvention, farm use numbers FN have been printed at the required minimumnumber of digits on the ear tags 1 through 4, thereby leaving a freespace SP on the left side of the ear tag as compared with conventionalear tags printed with meaningless numeral(s) of “0” at the upper digitsof farm use numbers FN. Thus, this free space SP can be arbitrarilyutilized by a farm.

There will be now considered the situation shown in FIG. 9C, where a cowcarrying an ear tag carrying an Animal Registration Number CN“123456789” and a farm use number FN “89” is transferred from a farm toanother receiving farm, and where this receiving farm possesses a cowcarrying an ear tag carrying an Animal Registration Number CN“345662889” and a farm use number FN “89”. This situation leads toduplication of the farm use numbers FN at the receiving farm, since theanimal registration ear tags are basically unexchangeable.

Even in such a situation, there can be avoided the duplication of thefarm use numbers FN at the receiving farm, by entering a suitable letterand/or numeral in the free space SP before the farm use number FN of theear tag of the transferred cow (or the cow originally possessed by thereceiving farm). Such a suitable letter and/or numeral may be manuallywritten or drawn/painted by a specific machine. FIG. 9A shows an examplewhere a certain letter is entered in the free space SP before the farmuse number FN, while FIG. 9B shows an example where numerals at 2 digitsupper than the current farm use number FN are entered in the free spaceSP before the number FN.

Although not shown herein, it is also possible to delete a part of afarm use number FN by hand or by a specific machine, as another methodfor overcoming duplication of farm use numbers FN.

Moreover, when a farm use number FN to be printed on each of the eartags 1 through 3 includes only one digit as shown in FIG. 10A, it ispossible to print the farm use number FN of one digit at the center ofeach of ear tag 1 through 3 to thereby provide free spaces SP at bothsides of the number FN. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 103, it isalso possible to print a guide mark(s) GM in the free space SP, forguiding to thereby promote an entry (or entries) such as of letter(s)and/or numeral(s) into the free space(s) SP. As shown, this guide markGM may be a blank digital numeral(s) formed of 7 segmental bars in thefree space SP, such that a desired numeral is indicated or formed bypainting out suitable segmental bars.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment ox the present invention, i.e., showsan example in which the present invention is applied to an ear tag 5 ofsuch a type that male and female ear tags 5A, 5B are combinedly attachedto a cow. In the ear tag 5 of this embodiment, the male ear tag 5A has afront surface printed with an Animal Registration Number CN and a farmuse number FN, this number FN being provided by enlargingly printing thelast 2 digits of the number CN, while the female ear tag 53 has a frontsurface enlargedly printed with the farm use number FN. It is possibleto additionally print a name of a registering organization or atrademark on the front surface of the female ear tag 5B.

FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, i.e., showsan example in which the present invention is applied to an ear tag 6 ofanother type such that male and female ear tags 6A, 6B are combinedlyattached to a cow. In the ear tag 6 of this embodiment, the male ear tag6A has a back surface printed with an Animal Registration Number CN anda barcode BC corresponding thereto, while the female ear tag 6B has afront surface enlargedly printed with a farm use number FN. In thisembodiment, the barcode BC to be rarely used is printed on the rearsurface of the male ear tag 5A. In this case, since the barcode BC canbe printed in a larger size on the rear surface of the male ear tag 5Aand positioned inwardly of a cow ear, the barcode BC is scarcely damagedby rubbing or contamination, thereby improving its readability.

FIG. 13 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, i.e., showsa most common example in which the present invention is applied to anear tag 7 of such a type that male and female ear tags 7A, 73 arecombinedly attached to a cow. In the ear tag 7 of this embodiment, themale ear tag 7A has a front surface printed with an Animal RegistrationNumber CN and a farm use number FN, while the female ear tag 7B has afront surface also printed with the Animal Registration Number CN andthe farm use number FN. Although not shown, this type of ear tag 7 isnormally accompanied by a barcode for entry, such as by a tie-on label,a hanging label, or a piece of cardboard. These means may be regarded asbeing a passport indicating an individual information of an animal, andmay act as auxiliary entry means.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show eighth and ninth embodiments of the presentinvention, respectively, i.e., show embodiments where the presentinvention is applied to each of one-piece type ear tags 8 and 9. FIG. 14shows the embodiment of the ear tag 8 having a front surface printedwith an farm use number FN and a two-dimensional barcode SC, and FIG. 15shows the embodiment of the ear tag 9 having a front surface printedwith a farm use number FN and a barcode BC.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a 10th embodiment of the present invention, andshow front and rear surfaces of a one-piece type ear tag 10,respectively. As shown in FIG. 16A, the front surface of the ear tag 10is printed with a farm use number FN, and the ear tag 10 has an edgeportion printed with years Y and months M. Further, as shown in FIG.16B, the ear tag 10 has a rear surface printed with a farm use number FNand a barcode BC corresponding thereto. In this embodiment, it ispossible to render the ear tag 10 to be informative such as by markingwith a pen or by cutting out those year and month portions where a cowwas born.

In the above described 1st through 10th embodiments, the farm usenumbers FN have been printed by numerals excluding prefixed “0('s)”thereof (at a digit(s) before or upper than the uppermost meaningfulnumeral). For example, when numbers from “1” to “99” of one digit or twodigits are required as farm use numbers FN, the ear tags 1 are simplyprinted with meaningful numerals such as from “1” to “99” withoutprinting meaningless numeral “0('s)” which have been otherwise prefixedin Europe such as in a manner from “0001” to “0099”. The above featureof the present invention is to improve the visibility of farm usenumbers FN.

On the other hand, a meaningless numeral “0('s)” printed before a farmuse number FN of one digit or two digits will not deteriorate visibilityso much, when farm use numbers FN being used in a certain farm have 3digits at the maximum. Further, there may be such a situation that: ameaningless numeral “0('s)” is/are preferred such as when a farm usenumber FN is scanned by a hand-held terminal to thereby individuallyidentify a cow, or when mistakes of manual input are to be avoided; anda farm side has requested an ear tag in such a form that a meaninglessnumeral “0('s)” has/have been printed before a number of one digit ortwo digits. Thus, there will be described examples of ear tags printedwith a meaningless numeral “0('s)” before farm use numbers FN of onedigit or two digits, in the following embodiments.

In manufacturing ear tags printed with a meaningless numeral “0('s)”before farm use numbers FN of one digit or two digits, there can beattained universality of the number of digits of farm use numbers FN, byselecting the allowed number of meaningless “0” to be at the most 1(one) where the maximum number of digits in a farm using ear tags istwo, and by selecting the allowed number of meaningless “1's” to be atthe most 2 (two) where the maximum number of digits in a farm using eartags is three.

FIGS. 17A through 17F show examples of an ear tag 11 according to a 11thembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 17A through 17C show exampleswhere the maximum number of digits is two in a farm using this ear tag11, while FIGS. 17D through 17F show examples where the maximum numberof digits is three in a farm using this ear tag 11.

The example shown in FIG. 17A corresponds to a situation where the farmuse number FN has a meaningful numeral “0” and where only this numeral“1” is included at the 3rd digit from the lowermost digit of an AnimalRegistration Number CN. In this example, there is printed only onemeaningless numeral “0” before the meaningful numeral “1” of the farmuse number FN, and it is in the same size and at the same print-densityor color as the meaningful numeral “1”.

FIG. 17B shows a modified example of FIG. 17A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at the 4thdigit from the uppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN, Inthis example, there is printed only one meaningless numeral “0” beforethe meaningful numeral It of the farm use number FN and it is in thesame size as the meaningful numeral “1” but at a lower print-density. Byprinting the numeral “0” at a lower print-density, the meaningfulnumeral “1” can be clearly confirmed.

FIG. 17C shows another modified example of FIG. 17A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at theuppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. In this example,there is printed only one meaningless numeral “0” before the meaningfulnumeral “1” of the farm use number FN, and in the same size as themeaningful numeral “1” but as an outline or whitened character. Byprinting the numeral “0” as an outline character, the meaningful numeral“1” can be clearly confirmed in contrast to the meaningless “0”.

FIG. 17D shows a modified example corresponding to a situation where thefarm use number FN has a meaningful numeral “1” and where only thisnumeral “1” is included at the 3rd digit from the lowermost digit of anAnimal Registration Number CN. In this example, there are printed twomeaningless numerals “0” before the meaningful numeral “1” of the farmuse number FN, and in the same size and at the same print-density as themeaningful numeral “1”.

FIG. 17E shows a modified example of FIG. 17D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at the 4thdigit from the uppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. Inthis example, there are printed two meaningless numerals “0” before themeaningful numeral “1” of the farm use number FN, in the same size asthe meaningful numeral “1” but at a lower print-density.

FIG. 17F shows another modified example of FIG. 17D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at the 3rddigit from the uppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. Inthis example, there are printed two meaningless numerals “0” before themeaningful numeral “1” of the farm use number FN, in the same size asthe meaningful numeral “1” but as outline characters.

FIGS. 18A through 18F show examples of an ear tag 12 according to a 12thembodiment of the present invention, in which the methods for printingfarm use numbers FN are exactly identical with those in examplesdepicted in FIGS. 17A through 17F, and FIGS. 18A through 18F correspondto FIGS. 17A through 17F, respectively. The ear tag 12 of the 12thembodiment is differentiated from the ear tag 11 of the 11th embodiment,only in that: in addition to the inclusion of the meaningful numeral “1”of a farm use number FN in an Animal Registration Number CN; that(those)numeral(s) “0” in the farm use number FN, which has(have) beenmeaningless in the 11th embodiment, is (are) also included in the AnimalRegistration Number CN at a digit(s) upper (=more significant) than themeaningful numeral “1” included in the numeral CN. In this way, when one“0” or two consecutive “0”s (i.e., “00”) is/are included in an AnimalRegistration Number CN at a digit/digits of the number CN before anumeral(s) to be enlargedly printed as a farm use number FN, it becomespossible to establish the farm use number FN including such numeral “0”or numerals “00” at a suitable upper digit(s) by printing the included“0” or “00”, as it/they is/are at the same print-density or a thinnerprint-density, or as an outline character(s).

FIGS. 19A through 19F show examples of an ear tag 13 according to a 13thembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 19A through 19C show exampleswhere the maximum number of digits is two on a farm using this ear tag13, while FIGS. 19D through 19F show examples where the maximum numberof digits is three on a farm using this ear tag 13.

The example shown in FIG. 19A corresponds to a situation where the farmuse number FN has a meaningful numeral “1” and where only this numeral“1” is included at the 3rd digit from the lowermost digit of an AnimalRegistration Number CN. In this example, there is printed only onemeaningless numeral “0” before the meaningful numeral “1” of the farmuse number FN, in a size smaller than, and at the same print-density as,the meaningful numeral “1”.

FIG. 19B shows a modified example of FIG. 19A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at the 4thdigit from the lowermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. Inthis example, there is printed only one meaningless numeral “0” beforethe meaningful numeral “1” of the farm use number FN, and in a sizesmaller than and at a lower print-density than the meaningful numeral“1”.

FIG. 19C shows another modified example of FIG. 19A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is also “1” and only this numeral “1” is included at the 2nddigit from the uppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. Inthis example, there is printed only one meaningless numeral “0” beforethe meaningful numeral “1” of the farm use number FN, in a size smallerthan the meaningful numeral “1” and as an outline character.

FIG. 19D shows an example corresponding to a situation where the farmuse number FN has a meaningful numeral “1” and where only this numeral“1” is included at the 3rd digit from the lowermost digit of an AnimalRegistration Number CN. In this example, there are printed twomeaningless numerals “0” before the meaningful numeral “1” of the farmuse number FN, in a size smaller than, and at the same print-density as,the meaningful numeral “1”.

FIG. 19E shows a modified example of FIG. 19D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is “7” and only this numeral “7” is included at the 5th digitfrom the lowermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. In thisexample, there are printed two meaningless numerals “0” before themeaningful numeral “7” of the farm use number FN, in a size smaller thanthe meaningful numeral “7” and at a lower print-density.

FIG. 19F shows another modified example of FIG. 19D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numeral of the farm usenumber FN is “7”. and only this numeral “7” is included at the 3rd digitfrom the uppermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. In thisexample, there are printed two meaningless numerals “0” before themeaningful numeral (“7” of the farm use number FN, in a size smallerthan the meaningful numeral “7” and as outline characters.

FIGS. 20A through 20F show examples of an ear tag 14 according to a 14thembodiment of the present invention, in which the methods for printingfarm use numbers FN are exactly identical with those in examplesdepicted in FIGS. 19A through 19F, and FIGS. 20A through 20F correspondto FIGS. 19A through 19F, respectively (in FIG. 19D only, the meaningfulnumeral has been changed from “1” to “7”). The ear tag 14 of the 14thembodiment is differentiated from the ear tag 13 of the 13th embodimentonly in that: in addition to the inclusion of the meaningful numeral “1”or “7” of a farm use number FN in an Animal Registration Number CN;that(those) numeral(s) “0” in the farm use number FN, which has(have)been meaningless in the 13th embodiment, is(are) also included in theAnimal Registration Number CN at a digit(s) upper than the meaningfulnumeral “1” or “7” included in the numeral CN. In this way, when one “0”or two consecutive “0”s (i.e., “00”) is/are included in an AnimalRegistration Number CN at a digit/digits of the number CN before anumeral(s) to be enlargedly printed as a farm use number FN, it becomespossible to establish the farm use number FN including such numeral “0”or numerals “00” at a suitable upper digit(s) by printing, in a smallersize, the included “0” or “00” at the same print-density or a thinnerprint-density, or as an outline character(s).

FIGS. 21A through 21F show examples of an ear tag 15 according to a 15thembodiment of the present invention, where the maximum number of digitsis three in a farm using this ear tag 15 in which a farm use number FNhas 2 digits.

The example shown in FIG. 21A corresponds to a situation where the farmuse number FN has meaningful numerals “11” and where only these numerals“11”, are included at the 1st (i.e., lowermost itself) and 2nd digitsfrom the lowermost digit of an Animal Registration Number CN. In thisexample, there is printed only one meaningless numeral “0” before themeaningful numerals “11” of the farm use number FN, and in the same sizeand at the same print-density as the meaningful numerals “11”.

FIG. 21B shows a modified example of FIG. 21A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numerals of the farm usenumber FN are also “11” and only these numerals “11” are included at the4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of an Animal RegistrationNumber CN. In this example, there is printed only one meaninglessnumeral “0” before the meaningful numerals “11” of the farm use numberFN, in the same size as the meaningful numerals “11” but at a lowerprint-density.

FIG. 21C shows another modified example of FIG. 21A, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numerals of the farm usenumber FN are also “11” and only these numerals “11” are included at the2nd and 3rd digits from the uppermost digit of an Animal RegistrationNumber CN. In this example, there is printed only one meaninglessnumeral “0” before the meaningful numerals “11” of the farm use numberFN, in the same size as the meaningful numerals “11” but as an outlinecharacter.

FIG. 21D shows a modified example corresponding to a situation where thefarm use number FN has meaningful numerals “11” and where only thesenumerals “11” are included at the 1st and 2nd digits from the lowermostdigit of an Animal Registration Number CN. In this example, there isprinted one meaningless numeral “0” before the meaningful numerals “11”of the farm use number FN, in a size smaller than but at the sameprint-density as the meaningful numerals “11”.

FIG. 21E shows a modified example of FIG. 21D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numerals of the farm usenumber FN are also “11” and only these numerals “11” are included at the4th and 5th digits from the lowermost digit of an Animal RegistrationNumber CN. In this example, there is printed one meaningless numeral “0”before the meaningful numerals “11” of the farm use number FN, in a sizesmaller than the meaningful numerals “11” and at a lower print-density.

FIG. 21F shows another modified example of FIG. 21D, and this examplecorresponds to a situation where the meaningful numerals of the farm usenumber FN are also “11” and only these numerals “11” are included at the2nd and 3rd digits from the uppermost digit of an Animal RegistrationNumber CN. In this example, there is printed one meaningless numeral “0”before the meaningful numerals “11” of the farm use number FN, in a sizesmaller than the meaningful numerals “11” and as an outline character.

FIGS. 22A through 22F show examples of an ear tag 16 according to a 16thembodiment of the present invention, in which the methods for printingfarm use numbers FN are exactly identical with those in examplesdepicted in FIGS. 21A through 21F, and FIGS. 22A through 22F correspondto FIGS. 21A through 21F, respectively. The ear tag 16 of the 16thembodiment is differentiated from the ear tag 15 of the 15th embodimentonly in that: in addition to the inclusion of the meaningful numerals“11” of a farm use number FN in an Animal Registration Number CN; thatnumeral “0” in the farm use number FN, which has been meaningless in the15th embodiment, is also included in the Animal Registration Number CNat a digit upper than the meaningful numerals “11” included in thenumeral CN. In this way, when one “0” is included in an AnimalRegistration Number CN at a digit of the number CN before numerals to beenlargedly printed as a farm use number FN, it becomes possible toestablish the farm use number FN including such a numeral “0” at anupper digit of the meaningful numerals by printing the included “0”, inthe same size as or in a size smaller than the meaningful numerals, atthe same print-density or a thinner print-density, or as an outlinecharacter.

There will be now described a procedure or method for a farm to obtainfarm use numbers FN, i.e., a method to print numbers desired or requiredby the farm on ear tags, in the aforementioned method for managinganimals by utilizing ear tags printed with both of Animal RegistrationNumbers CN and farm use numbers FN, respectively.

There will be firstly described a printing method for ear tags, inwhich: Animal Registration Numbers CN to be printed on ear tags aremanaged by a predetermined administrative department; ear tag issuingorganizations (factories of ear tags) are established separately fromthe administrative department; and farms are to inform their desiredfarm use numbers FN directly to the administrative department when thefarms are to obtain the numbers FN, and then ear tags are printed by apertinent issuing organization and distributed to the farms.

In this situation, a pertinent farm informs the administrativedepartment of the procuration or acquisition request of the farm for eartags printed with farm use numbers as arbitrary farm-use individualidentification numbers, such as farm use numbers FN from “1” to “40”,required for individually identifying animals in the pertinent farm. Inthis case, the administrative department is preferably prepared toaccept or admit farm use numbers FN having maximum number of digits upto 4 digits to give leeway, though the maximum number of digits of farmuse numbers FN will be actually up to 3 digits in view of the scales ofrespective farms.

Upon request for farm use numbers FN from a farm, the administrativedepartment is to retrieve Animal Registration Numbers CN including allthe numerals at respective digits of the requested farm use numbers FN,respectively, from a computer installed in the administrativedepartment. The computer is to include therein a database of availableAnimal Registration Numbers, and the administrative department is toretrieve available Animal Registration Numbers CN from this database.There are various ways to select Animal Registration Numbers CN,depending on whether farm use numbers FN are selected from a lastdigit(s) of an Animal Registration Number CN like the aforementionedfirst embodiment or from intermediate digits from an Animal RegistrationNumber CN like the aforementioned second embodiment. For example, it ispossible to select a farm use number FN from a last digit(s) of anAnimal Registration Number CN like the aforementioned first embodimentat an earlier stage or phase, and then from intermediate digits of anAnimal Registration Number CN like the second embodiment upon failure ofthe selection noted just above. Upon failure of the further selection,it is possible to decide numerals to be used for farm use numbers FNwhile inserting a dummy numeral(s) into Animal Registration Numbers CNlike the fourth embodiment.

Upon completion of the selection of Animal Registration Numbers CNcorresponding to the farm use numbers FN requested by the farm, theadministrative department is to transmit the selected AnimalRegistration Numbers CN and the requested farm use numbers FN to apertinent ear tag issuing organization.

With the arrival of the data on ear tags from the administrativedepartment, the Animal Registration Numbers CN and farm use numbers FNtransmitted from the administrative department are printed by thepertinent ear tag issuing organization in a small typeface and in alarge typeface at the required minimum number of digits, respectively,and then printed ear tags are distributed to the requesting farm.

According to the aforementioned system, farms are permitted to managecows by utilizing ear tags printed with Animal Registration Numbers CNmanaged by the administrative department and farm use numbers FNrequired in the farms.

There will be now described a printing method for ear tags, in which:Animal Registration Numbers CN to be printed on ear tags are managed bya predetermined administrative department; ear tag issuing organizations(factories of ear tags) are established separately from theadministrative department; and farmers go to an ear tag retail shop oran agricultural cooperative society, to obtain desired farm use numbersFN.

In this situation, it is assumed that the administrative department isprovided with a computer for managing Animal Registration Numbers, andthe computer is to include therein a database of available AnimalRegistration Numbers so that the administrative department is allowed toretrieve available Animal Registration Numbers CN from this database. Itis further assumed that ear tag issuing organizations have computerscommunicating with the computer of the administrative department viatelecommunication lines, respectively, such that the contents of thedatabase of the administrative department are communicated to thecomputers of the ear tag issuing organizations, respectively,

According to such a system, unused numbers in the database of AnimalRegistration Numbers prepared in the administrative department areperiodically transmitted to each of databases separately prepared forear tag issuing organizations,

Meanwhile, concerning issuance of ear tags, each of the ear tag issuingorganizations previously decides farm use numbers FN to be printed atthe required minimum number of digits for individually identifyinganimals in farms, such as based on scales and yearly calf-birth statesof respective farms. For example, each ear tag issuing organization isto previously settle certainly or probably necessary farm use numbers FNas consecutive numbers, such as a predetermined number of sets of farmuse numbers FN from “1” to “20”, another predetermined number of sets offarm use numbers FN from “1” to “30”, and yet another predeterminednumber of sets of farm use numbers FN from “1” to “40”. Next, from theperiodically transmitted unused numbers in the database of each ear tagissuing organization, each ear tag issuing organization selects thoseAnimal Registration Numbers CN, the pertinent digits of multiple digitsof which numbers CN include the numerals included in the previouslysettled sets of consecutive numbers, respectively.

Then, each ear tag issuing organization is to inform the selected AnimalRegistration Numbers CN to the database of the administrativedepartment, in order to inquire as to whether the selected AnimalRegistration Numbers CN are available or obtainable. If available. theadministrative department issues a notice of usage allowance to thepertinent ear tag issuing organization, and eliminates the AnimalRegistration Numbers CN to be used by the penitent ear tag issuingorganization from the unused numbers of the database of theadministrative department. such an inquiry will be unnecessary if onlyone ear tag issuing organization exists, However, existence of ear tagissuing organizations at multiple locations requires a coordination andconfirmation task of Animal Registration Numbers CN selected by each eartag issuing organization, between the administrative department and eachear tag issuing organization. After the notice of usage allowance forthe selected Animal Registration Numbers CN from the administrativedepartment has arrived at the selecting ear tag issuing organization,this ear tag issuing organization is to manufacture the totally decidednumber of sets of farm use numbers FN as a due number of sets ofconsecutive numbers, by printing the Animal Registration Numbers CN andfarm use numbers FN in a small typeface and in a large typeface at therequired minimum number of digits, respectively. These manufactured eartags printed with the due number of sets of consecutive numbers,respectively, are distributed to retail shops and agriculturalcooperative societies as their stock or as their warehouse items.

Further, each farmer calls on an ear-tag retail shop or agriculturalcooperative society when the farmer requires a set of ear tags printedwith consecutive numbers, and purchases the required set from stock.Subsequently, the data concerning the purchaser of the set of ear tagsmay be transmitted to a pertinent ear tag issuing organization from thepertinent ear-tag retail shop or agricultural cooperative society, andthe pertinent ear tag issuing organization may further inform this datato the administrative department.

This system allows a farm to readily obtain a set of ear tags printedwith consecutive numbers desired by the farm, such as via an ear-tagretail shop and/or agricultural cooperative society.

According to the farm use number printing method of the presentinvention based on the required number of digits only, as describedabove, unique numbers can be effectively generated by maximallyutilizing the generation frequence of numbers so as to cope with thosenumbers requested by farms, thereby providing an effect superior to theaforementioned European ear tag registration systems based on theenlarged 4-digit indication which fails to provide desired numbers. Thisalso means that a farm is allowed to select its desired numbers so thatduplication of the same numbers within the farm can be avoided.

Further, according to the present invention, since farm use numbers FNnecessarily use some part of Animal Registration Numbers CN or some ofthe component digits of numbers CN, a corresponding relationship betweenthe farm use numbers and the Animal Registration Numbers is stored inthe data base of the administrative department. Thus, an appropriatecountermeasure can be taken even upon occurrence of duplication of farmuse numbers of ear tags. This means that another countermeasure can betaken even for duplication of farm use numbers FN, at a farm to whichanimals have been transferred, or at an animal market or abattoir. Therewill be later provided a further explanation in this point.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the ear tags according to the presentinvention have been described mainly with regard to cows as animals.However, subject animals of such ear tags are not particularly limitedto cows.

Meantime, there will be now described several examples concerning amethod for effectively registering Animal Registration Numbers CN in theaforementioned ear tags of the present invention into a database of aregistering organization, Note, the method for selecting or establishingAnimal Registration Numbers CN and farm use numbers FN for ear tags inthe present invention is not limited to such examples.

(1) Stack Method:

This is a method to stack Animal Registration Numbers CN into thedatabase, as literally represented, such that Animal RegistrationNumbers CN are used by sequentially stacking the numbers CN from thelowermost number thereof into the database. There is now exemplarilyconsidered a situation where first, second and third farms haverequested first, second and third sets of farm use numbers FN of “1” to“50”, “1” to “80” and “1” to “40”, respectively. The procedure in thissituation is as follows;

(a) The FN's “1”, to “50” of the first set are taken out or selectedfrom CN's 000,000,001 to 000,000,050, respectively;

(b) The FN's “1” to “9” of the second set are taken out from CN's000,000,051 to 000,000,059, respectively;

(c) The FN's “10” to “59” of the second set are taken out from CN's000,000,110 to 000,000,159, respectively;

(d) The FN's “60” to “80” of the second set are taken out from CN's000,000,060 to 000,000,080, respectively;

(e) The FN's “1” to “9” of the third set are taken out from CN's000,000,081 to 000,000,089, respectively; and

(f) The FN's “10” to “40” of the third set are taken out from CN's000,000,210 to 000,000,240, respectively.

In this way, requested farm use numbers FN are provided by sequentiallytaking out or selecting available (i.e., unassigned) Animal RegistrationNumbers CN from the then available lowermost number in the CN's and bystacking the thus taken out Animal Registration Numbers CN into thedatabase, thereby effectively utilizing the database.

Although the above taking-out procedure is conducted in an ascendingorder, a descending order is also possible.

(2) Block Method;

This is a method to arrange and use blocked registration frames ofAnimal Registration Numbers CN within the database. This method has anexemplary procedure as follows;

(a) Animal registration numbers CN are blocked every 500 numbers, in thedatabase.

(b) Each block is assigned to a pertinent farm.

(c) Required Animal Registration Numbers CN are yearly taken out from apertinent block.

(d) Upon exhaustion of Animal Registration Numbers CN within thepertinent block, the procedure is transferred to a new block of CN's,i.e., a new block is assigned to the pertinent farm.

(e) in transferring to the new block, the pertinent farm is to selectwhether the farm use number is continued or is reset/returned to thenumber at the time of starting.

(f) The above steps are repeated.

Although each block assigned to a farm has 500 pieces or units of AnimalRegistration Numbers CN in the aforementioned example, 1,000 units maybe adopted. Then, it becomes possible to uniformly start from “1” evenif direct 3-digit FN's are used, and thereafter the number FN isconsecutively increased with the lapse of time. Turning to countriessuch as Japan which include many small scaled farms, it will takeapproximately 20 years to exhaust 1,000 FN's, during which noduplication of farm use numbers is caused within a farm where animalsare bred.

(3) Mini-Block Method:

This is a method to mini-block the blocks according to the method (2)into minimum blocks, as a method for effectively managing a database.This method has an exemplary procedure as follows;

(a) Animal registration numbers CN are blocked every 100 numbers, in thedatabase.

(b) Each block is assigned to a pertinent farm.

(c) Required Animal Registration Numbers CN are yearly taken out from apertinent block.

(d) Upon exhaustion of Animal Registration Numbers CN within thepertinent block, the procedure is transferred to a new unused block ofCN's, i.e., the new unused block is assigned to the pertinent farm.

(e) In transferring to the new block, the pertinent farm is to selectwhether the farm use number is continued or is reset/returned to thenumber at the time of starting.

(f) The above steps are repeated.

This mini-block method is differentiated from the block method in thatthe former mini-blocks Animal Registration Numbers CN into blocksincluding 100 pieces of CN's. This means that numbers from “1” to “99”are included in one mini-block, by neglecting each numeral at thehundreds digit of each CN.

In this mini-block method, if 3-digit farm use numbers FN are adopted,there will be very probably and frequently used those AnimalRegistration Numbers CN having end digit numerals “1” and “2” at thehundreds digit of each CN, i.e., those numbers CN represented as “1XX”and “2XX”, in a manner more than those CN's having numerals other than“1” and “2” at the hundreds digit of each CN. This may act as abottleneck to thereby deteriorate a usage efficiency of unique numbers(Animal Registration Numbers). In such a case, it is possible to inserta dummy numeral into a 3rd digit (hundreds digit) as describedconcerning FIG. 8, to thereby allow effective occurrence of uniquenumbers without imposing any restriction on farm use numbers required byfarms.

(4) Random Method:

This random method more effectively utilizes available ones of AnimalRegistration Numbers CN, such that requested farm use numbers FN arerandomly taken out within a database. These requested farm use numbersFN may be taken out from anywhere in the Animal Registration Numbers CN,so that no restriction is imposed on the selection of CN's from withinthe database. Thus, Animal Registration Numbers CN within the databaseCan be effectively utilized, even without adopting dummy numerals.Moreover, upon exhaustion of Animal Registration Numbers CN according tothis random method, it is then possible to adopt insertion of a dummynumeral(s) as described above.

In addition, there is not absolutely required any specific expressionmethod for an indication field of each unique number (i.e., AnimalRegistration Number ON) according to the methods (1) through (3), sincea farm use number is supposed to be matched with a lower digit(s) of acorresponding unique number. In the random method just above, however,such as a marks to be attached, if necessary, to suitable digits of anAnimal Registration Number CN as described concerning FIG. 6, such as toshow which digits of the Animal Registration Number CN farm use numbersFN is selected from.

Lastly, there will be described an individual managing method utilizinganimal registration ear tags according to the present invention. Thisindividual managing method is adapted to conduct individual managementin case of the occurrence of duplication of enlarged numbers applied toear tags, when animals (cows) carrying ear tags printed with farm usenumbers at required minimum number of digits are collected from farms toa certain place. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, there is of coursecaused duplication of farm use numbers FN printed on ear tags 21attached to cows 20 (farm use numbers “60” are duplicated here) such asin a prize show, market or abattoir where animals are collected fromfarms. The individual managing method according to the present inventionovercomes this problem.

As mentioned previously, the European systems have: enlargedly printedlowermost 4 digits of Animal Registration Numbers; or indicated AnimalRegistration Numbers in multiple rows such that numerals at lowermost 4digits of Animal Registration Numbers are enlargedly printed on eartags, as farm-use individual identification numbers. Such 4-digitnumbers have been utilized for visually identifying cows in farms. Usageof 4-digit number is to restrict trouble to a minimum, by avoidingconfusion among animals due to duplication of ear-tag numbers. However,even 4-digit numbers may result in duplication, and none of the Europeansystems has completely overcome this duplication problem.

Turning to ear tags based on the present invention, farm use numbers tobe enlargedly printed on ear tags and to be visually recognized in farmsare provided not by numerals at standardized or uniformalized 4 to 5digits but by numerals at required minimum number of digits such as 1digit through 3 digits and possibly 4 digits. Thus, it is rather likelythat duplication of farm use numbers of ear tags of multiple animals iscaused at a place where animals are collected from farms. There will bedescribed hereinafter a countermeasure according to the presentinvention against such a situation as shown in FIG. 23 (where theanimals are cows, and the duplicated numbers are “60”).

(1) Identification by Combination of Ear Tag and Neck Tag:

Animal registration numbers of cows collected to a market or abattoirare read out from ear tags attached to cows or from individualidentification cards (called passports) appended to cows, and inputtedinto a computer at the collected place. It is also possible to inputAnimal Registration Numbers of collected cows into a computer by amethod other than the above.

Each ear tag of the present invention carries a piece of information inthe form of numeral or barcode: concerning an enlargedly indicated farmuse number in addition to an Animal Registration Number of a cow; orconcerning as to which part of an Animal Registration Number has beenenlargedly indicated. Thus, by reading an ear tag by a barcode reader orby a scanner provided with an OCR function, a computer can read out anAnimal Registration Number of a cow and a farm use number enlargedlyindicated on the ear tag. It is also possible to print a barcode on apassport to be appended to a cow, such that the barcode includesinformation as to which portion of digit(s) of the Animal RegistrationNumber has(have) been enlargedly indicated.

Upon reading farm use numbers after Animal Registration Numbers by thecomputer, the computer decides duplicated farm use numbers of cowscollected at this time, and indicates a procedure for differentiatingcows having ear tags of duplicated farm use numbers, on a display device25 of the computer such as shown in FIG. 24. In the example shown inFIG. 23, there exists duplication of farm use numbers “60”, of ear tags21. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 24, it is suggested that thedifferentiation should be conducted by hanging neck tags printed with orcontaining a number consisting of 2 numerals selected from the moresignificant digits of the farm use numbers “60”, on the pertinent cows,respectively.

Such neck tags may be supplied by automatically printing the numerals 2digits more significant than “60” by the managing computer at thecollected place, by distributing blank neck tags to the owners of thepertinent cows so that they can write the numerals 2 digits moresignificant than “60”, or by selecting suitable neck tags frompreviously provided ones. Upon hanging such neck tags on the necks ofthe pertinent cows at the collected place, respectively, the cows canmutually be differentiated by the visually recognizable large numbers onthe neck tags.

FIG. 25 shows the situation where neck tags 22 printed or entered with 2digit numerals more significant than the duplicated farm use numbershave been hung on those cows 20 having duplicated farm use numbers FNprinted on their ear tags 21, respectively. As seen from FIG. 25, thenecks of the five cows having duplicated farm use numbers “60” have beenhung with neck tags 22 carrying numbers “10”,“15”, “24”, “38”, and “73”,respectively, so that the differentiation among the cows 20 attachedwith the same farm use numbers can be readily conducted at thecollecting place of these cows 20.

In the aforementioned example, the number to be entered in neck tag 22is constituted by 2 numerals selected from 2 digits more significant, ina farm use numbers, than the digits of the duplicated number. However,there may be adopted a 1digit numeral more significant than a farm usenumber, if differentiation is possible. Contrary, there may be adopted anumber made of 3 or more numerals selected from more significant digitsin a farm use number, when duplication has still occurred even innumbers provided by 2 digit numerals. For example, those cows 20 havingadditionally duplicated numbers provided by 2 digit numerals ofduplicated farm use numbers may be provided with neck tags 22 printed orentered with 3 digit numerals.

Relatedly, when the duplicated farm use number “60” has been provided byenlarging consecutive numerals in an Animal Registration Number, 2 digitnumerals to be entered in a neck tag may be those more significant thanthe duplicated number. Further, when the duplicated farm use number “60”has been provided by enlarging discontinuous numerals in an AnimalRegistration Number such as described concerning FIG. 6C, 2 digitnumerals to be entered in a neck tag may be those more significant thanthe duplicated number. Moreover, such as when the duplicated farm usenumber “60” has been provided by enlarging 2 digit numerals from themost significant in an Animal Registration Number so that no numeralsexist at the left side of the duplicated number, it is possible to takeout 2 digit numerals from the least significant 2 digits of the AnimalRegistration Number than the duplicated number. Namely, where thepreviously described methods are not applicable in case of duplicationof farm use numbers, it is possible to take out 2 or 3 digit numeralsincluded in Animal Registration Numbers and enter them in neck tags suchthat no duplication is caused among numbers entered in neck tags.

In this way, by using neck tags for cows having duplicated farm usenumbers at the collecting place such as an animal auction market, itbecomes possible to confirm cow identity at a distance. Thus, the methodof the present invention above-described is extremely effective whenduplication occurs among the farm use numbers.

Note, the aforementioned neck tags are not absolutely necessary forindividually identifying animals, and individual identification can beconducted even in the case of omission of neck tags. The method thereforwill be described hereinafter.

(2) Identification by Ear Tag and Auxiliary Card:

This is a situation utilizing an ear tag and an auxiliary card recordedwith all the contents of the ear tag. Such an auxiliary card isdistributed to a farm together with an ear tag. FIG. 26 shows such anauxiliary card 23 which carries at least a barcode BC printed on an eartag (not shown) and an Animal Registration Number printed under thebarcode BC.

This barcode BC contains information “10-000-002-602-5” in case of theauxiliary card 23 at the upper right corner of FIG. 26. The leadingnumerals “10” indicates that the farm use number “2” is provided byenlarging a numeral at the least significant 1digit of the AnimalRegistration Number “000002602”, and the last digit “5” of theinformation is a check digit of the barcode BC. In addition to theAnimal Registration Number of a pertinent cow and the enlarged farm usenumber both printedly included in the barcode BC, the auxiliary card 23is further entered such as with the name of the cow, its place of birth,and names of its sire and dam. FIG. 27 shows a situation where theinformation of the auxiliary cards 23 are taken out by a terminal device24.

In the example as described above, even without inputting an AnimalRegistration Number and a farm use number of a cow from an ear tag, itis possible to input such numbers into a data processor by the auxiliarycard 23 printed with the contents same with the ear tag. The procedurethereafter may be identical with the above item (1), to thereby provideneck tags with such numbers so as to avoid duplication.

In the example described just above, Animal Registration Numbers andfarm use numbers can be entered by utilizing auxiliary cards 23. Thus,even in case of omission of neck tags, information can be obtained fromthe auxiliary card. There will be now considered a sequence with theomission of a neck tag where a farm use number “60” is inputted into theterminal device, and duplication of the inputted farm use number issuggested as shown in FIG. 28. At the beginning of such a sequence, thedisplay device 25 of the terminal device displays an instruction messagethat “ENTER THE NUMBER/S ENLARGED IN SIZE ON THE EAR TAGS”. Uponentering the farm use number “60”, there is displayed anotherinstruction message as to what additional data will render theduplicated number “60” be differentiated, as shown in the next screen.in this case, upon entering numerals “73” which is 2 digits moresignificant than the farm use number “60”, the display device 25displays a new farm use number “7360” together with the AnimalRegistration Number, to thereby enable individual identification of cowsat this time at the collected place.

According to the aforementioned methods, individual identification ofcows can be conducted: without fully inputting an Animal RegistrationNumber; or by an auxiliary card without relying on an ear tag. This hasa great effect in an actual task on a farm. Considering a situationnecessary to identify cows at a distance therefrom such as in aqualification service for measuring a volume of milk production, it wasnecessary to view a number on an ear tag according the European methods.According to the present invention, however, enlargedly printed simplenumbers are very legible, and even duplication of such numbers can beovercome by the aforementioned methods to allow individualidentification, thereby promoting the tasks.

Further, the countermeasure against duplication of farm use numbersaccording to the present invention can be also effectively applied to asystem where farm use numbers are arbitrarily entered in ear tags withrespect to Animal Registration Numbers, and the arbitrarily enterednumbers of ear tags are correlated with Animal Registration Numbers bypreparing a correspondence list for both kinds of numbers.

INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITY OF THE INVENTION

According to the constitution of the ear tag, the method of printingsuch an ear tag, and the individual managing method using such an eartag as disclosed by the present invention, farm use numbers are enlargedso as to be readily visible from the outside and no duplication ofnumbers can be caused at the first farm, thereby promoting management ofanimals in farms. Further, Animal Registration Numbers can be utilizedwithout wastefulness, by devising procedures to take out farm usenumbers from Animal Registration Numbers.

Further, since numerals included in Animal Registration Numbers areutilized for identification upon duplication of farm use numbers at aplace where animals are collected or at a farm to which animals havebeen transferred, animals can be readily distinguished from one anothereven upon duplication of farm use numbers. Thus, tasks requiring animalidentification are rendered extremely effective and precise, therebyproviding an economically great effect.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ear tag for attachment to an ear of an animalto identify an individual tagged animal, comprising: a tag portionhaving opposite sides; an Animal Registration Number printed on at leastone of the opposite sides of said tag portion, said Animal RegistrationNumber consisting of codes including numerals, letters, or barcodes, andhaving multiple digits; and an enlarged number printed on the same or adifferent side of said tag portion on which said Animal RegistrationNumber is printed, said enlarged number consisting of a minimum numberof digits of said Animal Registration Number needed by an individualfarm for identifying all tagged animals on the farm.
 2. An ear tagaccording to claim 1, wherein said enlarged number is selected fromadjacent digits of said Animal Registration Number, when said enlargednumber has multiple digits.
 3. An ear tag according to claim 1, whereinsaid enlarged number is selected to be discontinuous from said digits ofsaid Animal Registration Number, when said enlarged number has multipledigits.
 4. An ear tag according to claim 2 or 3, wherein one or moredigits of said enlarged number can be distinguished by eye in saidmultiple digits of the Animal Registration Number in relation to otherdigits thereof.
 5. An ear tag according to claim 2 or 3, whereininformation of said enlarged number is contained in a barcode when saidAnimal Registration Number is printed in the form of a barcode on saidear tag portion.
 6. An ear tag according to claim 1, wherein saidenlarged number includes a code not included in said Animal RegistrationNumber, and said code is contained in said Animal Registration Number asa dummy digit that can be distinguished from the other digits of saidAnimal Registration Number.
 7. An ear tag according to claim 6, whereinsaid enlarged number is printed on one of left, right, or centerpositions of said tag portion, and an unprinted space is on at least oneof the left and right sides of said enlarged number, when said enlargednumber has fewer digits than the maximum number of digits that can beprinted on said tag portion.
 8. An ear tag according to claim 7, whereina guide mark for indicating an area on the tag portion to be filled inby a printed code is printed on said tag portion.
 9. An ear tagaccording to claim 6, wherein said enlarged number is a one-digit numberor a two-digit number, and at least one figure “0”, having the same sizeas said enlarged number, is printed on the left side of said enlargednumber so that said enlarged number has no more than three digits. 10.An ear tag according to claim 6, wherein said enlarged number is aone-digit number or a two-digit number, and at least one figure “0”,having a smaller size than said enlarged number, is printed on the leftside of said enlarged number so that said enlarged number has no morethan three digits.
 11. An ear tag according to one of claims 9 or 10,wherein the print density or color of said figure “0” of said enlargednumber is lighter than the print density or color of the one-digitnumber or two-digit number of said enlarged number.
 12. An ear tagaccording to claim 9 or 10, wherein said figure“0” on the left side ofsaid enlarged number is printed as an outline character.
 13. An ear tagaccording to claim 1, wherein said enlarged number is printed on one ofleft, right, or center positions of said tag portion, and an unprintedspace is on at least one of the left and right sides of said enlargednumber, when said enlarged number has fewer digits than the maximumnumber of digits that can be printed on said tag portion.
 14. An ear tagaccording to claimed 13, wherein a guide mark for indicating an area onthe tag portion to be filled in by a printed code is printed on said tagportion.
 15. An ear tag according to claim 1, wherein said enlargednumber is a one-digit number or a two-digit number, and at least onefigure “0”, having the same size as said enlarged number, is printed onthe left side of said enlarged number so that said enlarged number hasno more than three digits.
 16. An ear tag according to claim 1, whereinsaid enlarged number is a one-digit number or a two-digit number, and atleast one figure “0”, having a smaller size than said enlarged number,is printed on the left side of said enlarged number so that saidenlarged number has no more than three digits.
 17. An ear tag accordingto one of claims 15 or 16, wherein the print density or color of saidfigure “0” of said enlarged number is lighter than the print density orcolor of the one-digit number or two-digit number of said enlargednumber.
 18. An ear tag according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said figure“0” on the left side of said enlarged number is printed as an outlinecharacter.
 19. A method of identifying an individual animal on a farm bydistinguishing it from another on the farm, using an ear tag accordingto claim 1 and a data processor at a place where animals are collectedfrom each of a plurality of farms, comprising the steps of: inputtingsaid Animal Registration Number printed on said ear tag and furtherinputting a farm use number to said data processor; detecting aduplication of said farm use number among said ear tags attached to eachanimal grouped at designated place for a specific purpose by said dataprocessor; and displaying an instruction to add and indicate at leastone digit of the figures included in said Animal Registration Number tosaid farm use number in order to distinguish the duplicated farm usenumber from another when said data processor detects the duplication ofsaid farm use number on said ear tag.
 20. A method of identifying anindividual animal on a farm by distinguishing it from another on thefarm, using an ear tag according to claim 1, a card for subsidiary usewith said ear tag and containing all of the information provided by saidear tag, and a data processor at a place where animals are collectedfrom each of a plurality of farms, comprising the steps of: inputtingsaid Animal Registration Number printed on said ear tag or said card andfurther inputting a farm use number to said data processor; detecting aduplication of said farm use number among said ear tags attached to eachanimal grouped at designated place for a specific purpose by said dataprocessor; and displaying an instruction to add at least one digit ofthe figures included in said Animal Registration Number to said farmused number in order to distinguish the duplicated farm use number fromanother when said data processor detects the duplication of said farmuse number on said ear tag.
 21. A method of printing an AnimalRegistration Number on an ear tag for attachment to an ear of an animalto identify an individual tagged animal, the Animal Registration Numberbeing controlled by a specific organization and consisting of codesincluding numerals, letters, or barcodes and an enlarged number toidentify the individual tagged animal, comprising the steps of:requesting said specific organization to supply an individual farm withan enlarged number as a private number having no more than four digits,to identify an individual tagged animal on the individual farm;selecting said Animal Registration Number to include all or all but oneof the figures forming digits of said enlarged number, from a previouslyprepared database of Animal Registration Numbers at said specificorganization; transmitting said selected Animal Registration Number andsaid enlarged number from said specific organization to an ear tagissuing organization; and printing said Animal Registration Numbertransmitted from said specific organization on said ear tag and printingsaid enlarged number included in said Animal Registration Number in aminimum number of digits at said ear tag issuing organization.
 22. Amethod of printing an Animal Registration Number on an ear tag forattachment to an ear of a tagged animal on an individual farm, theAnimal Registration Number being controlled by a specific organizationand consisting of codes including numerals, letters, or barcodes and anenlarged number to identify the tagged animal, comprising the steps of:regularly transmitting unused numbers in a database including saidAnimal Registration Number, the database having been previously preparedat said specific organization, to another database provided at an eartag issuing organization; arranging a set of figures for said enlargednumber to be printed on each said ear tag for said individual farm in aminimum number of digits to identify all tagged animals at saidindividual farm, and then selecting an Animal Registration Number whichincludes all of the figures of all of said enlarged numbers for anindividual farm somewhere in the multiple digits of the AnimalRegistration Number from the database of said tag issuing organization;transmitting said selected Animal Registration Number to the database ofsaid specific organization from said ear tag issuing organization anddeleting an unused number corresponding to said selected AnimalRegistration Number from said database of said specific organization;and printing said selected Animal Registration Number and said enlargednumber on each said ear tag in a minimum number of digits at said eartag issuing organization, after transmitting said selected AnimalRegistration Number to said database of said specific organization fromsaid ear tag issuing organization.